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Pentagon To Transfer Group of Detainees Out of Gitmo: Report

The Pentagon has informed Congress of its plans to move about a dozen Guantánamo Bay inmates to at least two countries as part of President Obama’s plan to shutter the detention center.

A U.S. official told Reuters the first of the transfers are expected in the next few days and the others will occur in the coming weeks. The official said the detainees to be transferred include Tariq Ba Odah, a Yemeni man who has been on a long-term hunger strike.

In February, the Obama Adm said its plan to close the facility, which now houses 91 detainees, is to move the 35 eligible for transfer to other countries, continue prosecuting others and bring those who aren’t eligible for either option to the U.S.

While the administration has said using a facility in the U.S. instead of Guantánamo would save the U.S. between $65M and $85M per year after the first 3 to 5years, the plan met opposition from Senate Republicans who question where the detainees would go and worry about security.

"What we received today is a vague menu of options, not a credible plan for closing Guantanamo, let alone a coherent policy to deal with future terrorist detainees," John McCain said after Obama’s announcement in February